Develop an environmental assessment technique for human comfort requirements in buildings

AbstractEnvironmental assessment methods have emerged to assess the environmental performance of buildings across the world. Accurate results obtained using these methods are considered highly important, especially when taking into account the global trend of being obligatory and the use of their results to compare the environmental performance of buildings creating a fair competition amongst them. They are used for assessing green buildings regarding issues such as energy, water …, etc. The indoor quality is one of these issues and human comfort is evaluated in those methods using a set of items to assess achieving the identified comfortable ranges by evaluating a number of factors influencing them. These items are using quantitative measurements, so the current assessing way is considered complex besides the consumption of time and effort without reaching significantly accurate results. Therefore the research problem appears in the lack of an appropriate mean in the current assessment methods to evaluate items linked with sensation and emotions. The research paper aims to propose a more credible and an accurate assessment approach to assess those items, and also helps evaluating another set of items which are linked to the psychological comfort. The previous type of comfort rarely appears in current assessment methods despite being one of the green architecture principles. The ‘Kano Model’ is the proposed way used for the application of questionnaires that are put through the information network and linked to assessment methods to get more accurate and creditable results when assessing human comfort items

Carnitine deficiency and oxidative stress provoke cardiotoxicity in an ifosfamide-induced Fanconi Syndrome rat model

In addition to hemorrhagic cystitis, Fanconi Syndrome is a serious clinical side effect during ifosfamide (IFO) therapy. Fanconi syndrome is a generalized dysfunction of the proximal tubule which is characterized by excessive urinary excretion of glucose, phosphate, bicarbonate, amino acids and other solutes excreted by this segment of the nephron including L-carnitine. Carnitine is essential cofactor for β-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids in the myocardium. IFO therapy is associated with increased urinary carnitine excretion with subsequent secondary deficiency of the molecule. Cardiac abnormalities in IFO-treated cancer patients were reported as isolated clinical cases. This study examined whether carnitine deficiency and oxidative stress, secondary to Fanconi Syndrome, provoke IFO-induced cardiomyopathy as well as exploring if carnitine supplementation using Propionyl-L-carnitine (PLC) could offer protection against this toxicity. In the current study, an animal model of carnitine deficiency was developed in rats by D-carnitine-mildronate treatment Adult male Wistar albino rats were assigned to one of six treatment groups: the first three groups were injected intraperitoneally with normal saline, D-carnitine (DC, 250 mg/kg/day) combined with mildronate (MD, 200 mg/kg/day) and PLC (250 mg/kg/day), respectively, for 10 successive days. The 4th, 5th and 6th groups were injected with the same doses of normal saline, DC-MD and PLC, respectively for 5 successive days before and 5 days concomitant with IFO (50 mg/kg/day). IFO significantly increased serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urinary carnitine excretion and clearance, creatine phosphokinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), intramitochondrial acetyl-CoA/CoA-SH and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in cardiac tissues and significantly decreased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and total carnitine and reduced glutathione (GSH) content in cardiac tissues. In carnitine-depleted rats, IFO induced dramatic increase in serum creatinine, BUN, CK-MB, LDH, carnitine clearance and intramitochondrial acetyl-CoA/CoA-SH, as well as progressive reduction in total carnitine and ATP in cardiac tissues. Interestingly, PLC supplementation completely reversed the biochemical changes-induced by IFO to the control values. In conclusion, data from the present study suggest that: Carnitine deficiency and oxidative stress, secondary to Fanconi Syndrome, constitute risk factors and should be viewed as mechanisms during development of IFO-induced cardiotoxicity. Carnitine supplementation, using PLC, prevents the development of IFO-induced cardiotoxicity through antioxidant signalling and improving mitochondrial function

Correlation Between Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Burden Among Family Caregivers of Psychotic Patients

A descriptive study using a convenience sample of family caregivers of psychotic patients recruiting from outpatient clinic and inpatients department in the Psychiatry and Neurology Hospital at Assiut University. They interviewed individually by using Socio-Demographic sheet and Burden Assessment Scale. More than forty percent of caregivers (41.9%) were in the age group, ranged from 45 to less than 60 years and 66.7 % of them were females. family caregivers had the highest mean score of time perspective burden (7.3±2.7) followed by financial problems (2.2±1.2) and personal distress (7.2±2.7). It can be concluded that, family caregivers of psychotic patients were highly suffering from burden related to time perspective and financial burden. Keywords: burden, family caregivers, and psychotic patients. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/70-06 Publication date: January 31st 202

New insights into smudge cell percentage in chronic lymphocytic Leukemia: A novel prognostic indicator of disease burden

Background: Percentage of smudge cells in CLL patients has recently been reported as a novel prognostic factor.Objectives: To investigate the impact of smudge cells percentage on the clinicolaboratory data of CLL patients and to evaluate the relationship between it and other prognostic factors in CLL.Methods: Ninety adults with CLL were enrolled. Smudge cells percentage was calculated by microscopic evaluation of blood smears. Testing of CD38 expression was done by immunophenotyping and detection of ATM, P53 deletions and trisomy 12 were performed using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)Results: Lower smear cells percentage (<30%) was significantly correlated with age, lymphadenopathy, organomegaly and advanced staging. It was also associated with high TLC, low hemoglobin and platelets count and high absolute and atypical lymphocytic count. Correlation studies with other prognostic factors revealed an association between low smear cells percentage and CD38 expression, short LDT, P53 and ATM deletions. Logistic regression analysis was also done to provide complementary prognostic information identifying the significant independent factors that predict low smear cell percentage.Conclusion: low percentage of smudge cells (<30%) could be considered as an adverse prognostic predictor being associated with high risk markers in CLL.Keywords: Smudge cells, CL

Study of plasma adiponectin level in patients with metabolic syndrome

Background: The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of interrelated common clinical disorders, including hypertension, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and dyslipidaemia, in addition to obesity. Central obesity accompanied by insulin resistance is a keyfactor in the development of metabolic syndrome (MS) and future macro vascular complications. Adiponectin is the most abundant peptide secreted by adipocytes, being a key component in the interrelationship between adiposity, insulin resistance and inflammation. Hypoadiponectimia has already been associated with the risk of the MS in several populations. Plasma adiponectin level was measured in the current study to clarify its role as a biomarker for metabolic syndrome (MS).Methods: This study was conducted on 40 MS patients (Group I) compared with 20 age and sex matched healthy volunteers (Group II). All patients and controls were subjected to full medical history, clinical examination and laboratory investigations in addition to plasma adiponectin level.Results: Plasma adiponectin levels were significantly lower in subjects with MS when compared with subjects with no diagnosis of MS. There was significant negative correlation between plasma adiponectin and age, waist circumference, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, insulin resistance, serum insulin, and triglycerides. Also there was significant positive correlation between plasma adiponectin and HDL.Conclusion: We conclude that adiponectin levels could help as a biomarker for cases of MS.

Urban Quality of Life in Nasr City: An Assessment of the Reformation Project of the Built Environment

Large-scale urban renewal initiatives are undertaken by governments in cities under pressure to improve residents' quality of life (QoL) and mitigate economic and environmental issues. In 2019, as a part of the Egypt 2030 vision, the government initiated a road network reformation project to solve mobility issues in the districts linking the east and west of Cairo, including Nasr City District. To investigate if the built environment of Nasr City District is still resident-friendly, this research is being undertaken to examine residents' satisfaction with the reformation project, which had an impact on their QoL

Impact of a Designed Nursing Teaching Protocol on Quality of Life of Patients with Chronic Lower Limb Ischemia at Assiut University Hospital

Chronic lower limb ischemia is a prevalent systemic atherosclerotic disease that impairs a patient's quality of life and untreated disease can lead to limb loss. The aim was; to evaluate the impact of a designed nursing teaching protocol on quality of life of patients with chronic lower limb ischemia. Research hypotheses; Participants will have less disease symptoms as compared to prior application of nursing protocol, The functional capacity will improve as presented by ankle brachial index, The knowledge of studied patients after application of nursing protocol will be higher than their knowledge before protocol, and quality of life of participants will improve. A quasi – experimental research design was utilized. The study was conducted at vascular surgery department and its outpatient clinics of Assuit University Hospital. A convenience sample of sixty adult male and female patients. Tools for data collection; tool I "Patients' structured assessment sheet", tool II “Vascular quality of life questionnaire".  The control group exposed to routine hospital care and assessed two times by using tool I and tool II. While study group patients received the contents of the designed nursing teaching protocol and assessed two times also by using the same tools. Data was collected & analyzed. Results concluded that; all patients in both groups were having unsatisfactory level of knowledge about disease in the time of admission. While in the time of follow up; the control group still had unsatisfactory level of knowledge and most of the study group patients became having satisfactory level of knowledge which reflected into their quality of life. As their quality of life became good. Theses study findings documented that; the more information the patient is provided the better equips to manage this chronic disorder. Keywords: Nursing teaching protocol, Quality of life, Chronic lower limb ischemia

Penetration enhancers in proniosomes as a new strategy for enhanced transdermal drug delivery

AbstractThe aim of this work is to investigate penetration enhancers in proniosomes as a transdermal delivery system for nisoldipine. This was performed with the goal of optimising the composition of proniosomes as transdermal drug delivery systems. Plain proniosomes comprising sorbitan monostearate, cholesterol, ethanol and a small quantity of water were initially prepared. Subsequently, proniosomes containing lecithin or skin penetration enhancers were prepared and evaluated for transdermal delivery of nisoldipine. The plain proniosomes significantly enhanced the transdermal flux of nisoldipine to reach 12.18μgcm−2h−1 compared with a saturated aqueous drug solution which delivered the drug at a rate of 0.46μgcm−2h−1. Incorporation of lecithin into such proniosomes increased the drug flux to reach a value of 28.51μgcm−2h−1. This increase can be attributed to the penetration enhancing effect of lecithin fatty acid components. Replacing lecithin oleic acid (OA) produced proniosomes of comparable efficacy to the lecithin containing system. The transdermal drug flux increased further after incorporation of propylene glycol into the OA based proniosomes. Similarly, incorporation of isopropyl myristate into plain proniosomes increased drug flux. The study introduced enhanced proniosomes as a promising transdermal delivery carrier and highlighted the role of penetration enhancing mechanisms in enhanced proniosomal skin delivery. The study opened the way for another line of optimisation of niosome proconcentrates

Use Trust Management Framework to Achieve Effective Security Mechanisms in Cloud Environment

Cloud Computing is an Internet based Computing where virtual shared servers provide software, infrastructure, platform and other resources to the customer on pay-as-you-use basis. Cloud Computing is increasingly becoming popular as many enterprise applications and data are moving into cloud platforms. However, with the enormous use of Cloud, the probability of occurring intrusion also increases. There is a major need of bringing security, transparency and reliability in cloud model for client satisfaction. One of the security issues is how to reduce the impact of any type of intrusion in this environment. To address this issue, a security solution is proposed in this paper. We provide a collaborative framework between our Hybrid Intrusion Detection System (Hy-IDS) based on Mobile Agents and virtual firewalls. Therefore, our hybrid intrusion detection system consists of three types of IDS namely IDS-C, IDS-Cr and IDS-M, which are dispatched over three layer of cloud computing. In the first layer, we use IDS-C over our framework to collect, analyze and detect malicious data using Mobile Agents. In case of attack, we collect at the level of the second layer all the malicious data detected in the first layer for the generation of new signatures using IDS-Cr, which is based on a Signature Generation Algorithm (SGA) and network intrusion detection system (NIDS). Finally, through an IDS-M placed in the third layer, the new signatures will be used to update the database NIDS belonging to IDS-Cr, then the database to NIDS belonging of IDS-Cr the cluster neighboring and also their IDS-C. Hardware firewall is unable to control communication between virtual machines on the same hypervisor. Moreover, they are blind to virtual traffic. Mostly, they are deployed at Virtual Machine Monitor- level (VMM) under Cloud provider’s control. Equally, the mobile agents play an important role in this collaboration. They are used in our framework for investigation of hosts, transfer data malicious and transfer update of a database of neighboring IDS in the cloud. With this technique, the neighboring IDS will use these new signatures to protect their area of control against the same type of attack. By this type of close-loop control, the collaborative network security management framework can identify and address new distributed attacks more quickly and effectively

Cooperative Trust Framework for Cloud Computing Based on Mobile Agents

Cloud computing opens doors to the multiple, unlimited venues from elastic computing to on demand provisioning to dynamic storage, reduce the potential costs through optimized and efficient computing. To provide secure and reliable services in cloud computing environment is an important issue. One of the security issues is how to reduce the impact of for any type of intrusion in this environment. To counter these kinds of attacks, a framework of cooperative Hybrid intrusion detection system (Hy-IDS) and Mobile Agents is proposed. This framework allows protection against the intrusion attacks. Our Hybrid IDS is based on two types of IDS, the first for the detection of attacks at the level of virtual machines (VMs), the second for the network attack detection and Mobile Agents. Then, this framework unfolds in three phases: the first, detection intrusion in a virtual environment using mobile agents for collected malicious data. The second, generating new signatures from malicious data, which were collected in the first phase. The third, dynamic deployment of updates between clusters in a cloud computing, using the newest signatures previously created. By this type of close-loop control, the collaborative network security management system can identify and address new distributed attacks more quickly and effectively. In this paper, we develop a collaborative approach based on Hy-IDS and Mobile Agents in Cloud Environment, to define a dynamic context which enables the detection of new attacks, with much detail as possible